ARIA

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXX, Issue 4883, 13 August 1936, Page 7

ARIA

R.S.A. (Own Correspondent.) The usual monthly meeting was held in the Empire Bakery, by kind permission of Mr. D. G. Helms, one of the vice-presidents being in the chair in the absence of the president, Mi’. J. A. Thomson, who was indisposed. Welcome visitors were Mr. Jack Dixon, president, and Messrs. Jack Kirk, and Bob Crowley, of the Mokauiti sub-branch, together with our old friend, Mr. W. Cayley-Alex-ander, of Pio Pio. The usual muster of Aria diggers turned out and carried out much useful business. The hon. seeretai’y reported on the financial success of the annual ball.

Mi*. Cayley-Alexandei* gave to the meeting full details of his work in connection with the obtaining of pensions for returned men. His mortality tables, calculated on Government statistics, made some of us older members almost hear the .grave yawning for us. However, his usual industry on behalf of the Diggers was apreciated by all and we hope it will be taken up by the Government. Financial membership is steadily growing and we have great hopes of once more beating our younger sub-branch at Pio Pio. Tennis Dance. The Aria Tennis Club held its annual fancy dress dance on Wednesday last, and as usual the number present was very great, so much so that if dances are patronised as at

present it will be necessary to enlarge the hall. Visitors were present from as far distant as Awakino, Mokauiti, etc. The decorating was done by a number of members —they were all too modest to claim authorship —and the club colours were most effectively worked into the decorations. The supper arrangements were carried out by a committee of ladies, amongst whom were Mrs. Crooks, Mrs. Arneil, Mrs. G. Webster and Mrs. Hughan, and the eatables were such as we only get at dances when they are “home grown.” Swift’s orchestra was again on top of its form and gave delight to all —the district is lucky to have such music always “on tap.” Mr. Charlie Taylor, as M.C., was in great form, becoming more and more energetic as the hours passed away. Numerous competition dances were performed and won, amongst the lucky ones being Mr. J. Helms, of Te Mapara, and Mrs. D. J. Helms, in the statue waltz. We do not know the names of the winners of the Monte Carlo. The winner of the cake, most beautifully iced by Mrs. Kinzett, and representing a tennis court with four kewpies as players, was won by Mrs. E. Christie, of Whangarei.

Of course the star item was the fancy dress element. Here, although the numbers were fair, the quality was so good that the judges took a long time to come to their decisions. Mr. J. and Miss D. Griffin as a Spanish couple, were the winners of the best dressed couple. Miss D. Bennett as an Odol advertisement won the most original costume prize, whilst Miss Wall’s was considered the best lady’s dress—a Hula girl. The most original couple were Miss S. Piercy and Miss M. Rooney, as a rooster and his wife—they also brought their family of chickens. in a nest, but we hope they left behind the other usual addenda of the poultry run. Miss D. Swensen as a gentleman of the Georgian period, was the winner of the prize for the best dressed gentleman; and the star item of all was Mr. W. K. Jones as Death, for which' he received the prize for the most original, gentleman’s costume. Altogether it was a great dance with heaps of fun, and we understand a financial success- to the tennis club.